We’re 7 weeks into the new year and by this point most people have long given up on their resolutions. It turns out January 12th is the fateful day that most of us throw in the towel and go back to eating chocolate donuts from the break room for lunch because old habits die hard and the stress of life got the best of us. I’m not here to pass judgement on that; I have been there and lord knows I’ll probably have a few more failed resolutions before my life is over. What I want to do today is talk about the why. Why, if we are so excited on the 1st of January to start healthier habits and strive for self-improvement, do we find ourselves a mere 12 days later feeling beaten down and unable to continue?
We Set Goals That Are Too Big
Big dreams and big goals are great. They push us to work hard, to grow, and to make our lives better, but sometimes they also cripple us because they seem too far away and impossible to reach. So what should we do when we want to achieve something that seems impossible? Break it down. Set smaller goals. Instead of saying “I want to lose 50 pounds” or “I want to deadlift 350 pounds”, try saying ” I want to lose 1-2 pounds a week” or, “I want to improve my deadlift by 5 pounds each week”. These smaller goals sound a lot less scary and will add up to the big goal over time!
We Don’t Set A Game Plan
Have you ever heard that saying “a goal without a plan is just a dream”? Well it’s true. A goal is something that inherently needs action to be achieved (unless your goal is to sit around and do nothing, but I’m guessing that isn’t the case for most of us). Take a minute and think about all the things you have achieved in your life: what did it take to do those things that you are most proud of? Whether its graduating college, working hard for a promotion, or learning a new skill, chances are it took a lot of studying, setting aside time to focus on what it would take to reach the end goal, and following through on those little steps that add up to big successes. Fitness works the same way–you can’t just think about working out, you have to actually do it. You can’t say “I want to eat better” without buying different food at the grocery store and changing your habits.
Whether you have a resolution for 2019, or you think it’s silly to let the changing calendar dictate your plans, setting goals for all areas of life is huge for growth as a person. If you’ve fallen off the wagon after these 7 weeks, take a moment to breathe, regroup, and consider what it was that put you off track. Start small, plan your attack, and achieve those dreams. You’ve got this.
Sarah Zimmer Fitness 